ABSTRACT

Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) were created to promote excellence in higher education learning and teaching. Capital funds were available to enable institutions to invest in, amongst other things, buildings to enhance learning in new and challenging ways. Assessment and Learning in Practice Settings (ALPS) is one such CETL aiming to promote and develop ways of inter-professional learning across 16 health and social care subjects in a collaboration of 5 Yorkshire universities.

Leeds University Library is one of the largest university libraries in the United Kingdom, with a stock of over 2.8 million volumes and 30,000 journals available to readers. The Library is seeking to re-interpret spaces in the light of 21st century pedagogy, technology and digital natives. It has had a unique opportunity to collaborate with ALPS in creating a pilot learning space in its Health Sciences Library. Work is ongoing to assess this space for learning to see whether it meets the expectations of students and how it has affected their work practices.

This paper will explore collaboration in the re-design of learning spaces between academic units, librarians and students. It will discuss the results of the pilot at Leeds University and suggest strategies for the future.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Trish Walker

Trish Walker is Programme Manager for the Assessment & Learning in Practice Settings (ALPS) Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL), a collaborative programme between the University of Leeds, the University of Bradford, the University of Huddersfield, Leeds Metropolitan University and York St. John College. She has particular responsibility for ensuring that the five Yorkshire partner institutions work effectively together to ensure that students graduating from courses in health and social care are fully equipped to perform confidently and competently at the start of their professional careers.

Previously Trish was Centre Manager at the Higher Education Academy Centre for Bioscience, a national programme to lead, support and inform the professional development and recognition of staff in higher education. The Centre provided support in the form of teaching resources including staff development workshops, publications and an e-journal.

Trish has a BA in French and an MBA with her dissertation based on student expectations and perceptions of an educational advice service

Liz Waller

Liz Waller is Head of Public Service Strategy at Leeds University Library. She is a member of the senior management team in the Library with strategic responsibility for Customer Services, Library Marketing and Estates planning and development. Currently she is working on development plans to ensure the Library is offering learning spaces fit for 21st century pedagogy which are adaptable for future needs.

Liz has 20 years experience of working in Higher Education libraries in the UK and previously specialised in information literacy. She has a BA in English and an MA in Library and Information Science. She is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.